April 2013

Apr 29, 2013
Diablo III for PS3 Now Available for Preorder

PlayStation gamers, prepare to confront the Lord of Terror! Select retailers are now taking preorders for the PS3 version of Diablo III. Check out the full announcement and visit the official website for more information, including details on the exclusive preorder bonus: the Infernal Helm.

Apr 25, 2013
Fireside Duel – Paladin vs. Warrior

Things continue to heat up as we bring forth two new heroes to battle it out for your enjoyment and edification. This time, we've got two heavy hitters: the mighty paladin Uther the Lightbringer against the tyrannical warrior Garrosh Hellscream. Sparks are bound to fly in this fireside duel. Shoutcasted by designer Ben Brode, you’ll get to witness these powerhouses employ unique class-specific cards and Hero Powers in a bid to see who comes out on top of the discard pile.

Learn more about Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft on the official site and stop by the forums to take part in the discussions. Opt in to the beta on Battle.net here.

*Warning: Murlocs may bite. Do not feed after midnight. Keep out of direct sunlight. Do not get wet. Not responsible for lost fingers, toes, or socks.

Apr 19, 2013
BlizzCon® 2013 Tickets On Sale April 24 and 27

Mark your calendars—a Blizzard is coming to Southern California! Tickets for BlizzCon® 2013 will go on sale in two batches on Wednesday, April 24 at 7 p.m. PDT and Saturday, April 27 at 10 a.m. PDT through the official BlizzCon website. In addition, a limited number of tickets to an exclusive pre-BlizzCon Benefit Dinner will go on sale Wednesday, May 1 at 7 p.m. PDT.

BlizzCon 2013 takes place November 8 and 9 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA, and tickets to the two-day show will be available at $175 USD each. Tickets to the Benefit Dinner (which includes admission to BlizzCon) will be priced at $500 USD each, with proceeds benefitting Children’s Hospital of Orange County. Tickets to previous BlizzCon events have sold out within minutes, so be sure to synchronize your hourglasses.

Paladins, demon hunters, and Ghosts who can’t make it to the show in person will once again have the option to enjoy BlizzCon from home by ordering a BlizzCon Virtual Ticket, offering comprehensive live coverage of the event via a multi-channel Internet stream. Further details on the Virtual Ticket, including pricing, availability, and programming information, will be announced at a later date.

As an important next step in its ongoing efforts to provide world-class entertainment, Blizzard has purchased IGN Pro League technology and assets from IGN. Along with this purchase, Blizzard is bringing onboard members of the IPL staff as the foundation for a new team based in San Francisco whose primary focus will be on creating high-quality web and mobile content in support of Blizzard games, while some IPL staff have joined Blizzard's existing eSports team.

“This new team will help us to further develop the rich media experiences that extend the fun and engagement of our games online,” said Itzik Ben-Bassat, Blizzard’s executive vice president of publishing. “This is a team of passionate gamers with a proven track record, and we’re looking forward to now leveraging their expertise and technology to support a variety of online efforts.”

Regarding the transaction, Peer Schneider, executive vice president of IGN, stated, “With the continuing evolution of the eSports space and the renewed focus on our core media brand, we made the decision to sell the IGN Pro League technology and assets and become agnostic in our competitive gaming coverage. Following Blizzard’s acquisition of IPL assets, IGN will partner with multiple organizations and cover their events.”

Apr 3, 2013
2013 StarCraft II World Championship Series Announced

In collaboration with the world's premier eSports organizations, we're rolling out a brand-new World Championship Series this year that establishes a unified global ranking system for StarCraft II eSports. What does this mean for players and eSports fans? Check out the press release and visit www.starcraft2.com/wcs to learn more.